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RetirementSavings

When investors open their 401(k)statements this fall, they'll finally be able to see in detail how previously hidden fees have been chipping away at their retirement savings. That's a good start: Here's how to let that news shock you into action.

Concerns about job security and piles of debt have left American workers more pessimistic about retirement than ever. And many should be concerned: About 60% report total savings and investments of under $25,000 (excluding the value of their home and defined benefit plans.)

Last year, the Social Security Administration warned that the program's trust fund was likely run out of money in 2036, leading to deep cuts in benefits. Now, the Congressional Budget Office says that projection may have been too optimistic.

A few weeks ago, we asked DailyFinance readers for their best tips for putting your financial house in order. Many were quick to note that the foundation of financial security lies in being ready when disaster hits. Here are some of their best suggestions for planning for those rainy days.

$1 million is a lot of money, but assuming that should be your retirement funding goal can be dangerously simplistic. So before you spend the next few decades over- or under-saving, assess whether $1 million is enough -- or too much -- to fund your plans.

Many companies have done away with pensions, replacing them with 401(k) plans and related options that put responsibility for retirement saving squarely on you. But those same corporations have also been pushing to keep you in the dark about the plans' costs.

More ominous developments on the darkening retirement front: The total value of Americans' retirement assets stood at $17 trillion at the end of September -- a drop of 7.5% from the record high of $18.4 trillion recorded on June 30, 2011.

Boo! It's the season of ghosts and goblins, when we like to scare ourselves and each other. But while Halloween frights are generally lighthearted and short-lived, there are some truly scary facts out there regarding our finances -- ones we'd do well to know about and beware of.

A 52-year-old single mom needs to save for retirement, but her cash flow is strangled by rising student loan payments for herself and her sons. How can she minimize her loan payments and free up cash for retirement savings? DailyFinance's Laura Rowley offers some tips.

A 53-year-old woman got divorced in May, and now, she wants to relocate to a new city and buy a little bungalow for herself and her 100-pound dog. But with her low income, she's wondering whether her best bet to get that home is deplete her retirement savings and buy it with cash. Our experts weigh in.

Splitting up makes a mess of your finances,as Lynn, a nurse living in Florida knows all too well. Her 2008 divorce from her husband of 28 years left her in debt, with bad credit, and with limited financial skills. She's already begun to dig out, but she needs a better plan.

When it comes to managing financial matters, you can't go wrong by hoping for the best but planning for the worst. In other words, underpromise and overdeliver. What does that look like in real life? Read on for some figures and calculations that point the way towards prudent retirement planning.

Sick of working 80 hour weeks, Akaisha and Billy Kaderli retired at age 38 and began traveling the world. How'd they pull it off? Here, in their own words, are the steps to take if you want to claim your freedom decades before the rest.

Even if Social Security weren't falling apart -- which it manifestly is -- the average retiree benefits essentially amount to about what you'd earn working full time at a minimum wage job. That's hardly the retirement lifestyle you want. Here's a plan that will allow you to retire comfortably.

In part one of this three-part series on retirement savings, we reviewed how to best manage a 401(k). But as today's companies continue to combat the tough economy by downsizing, part two explores what to do with your employer-offered retirement plan if you lose your job.

It's more than a question of "Do I have enough money?" Practicing retirement is a way to dip your toe into the post-work waters and see if they're too hot, too cold, too "just not you yet," or just right. Are you really ready financially -- and emotionally? Here's how to find out.